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England series to adopt referrals

Tony Hill calls for a referral during England's tour of the West Indies

The International Cricket Council has confirmed that the Umpire Decision Review System will be used in England's Test series in South Africa.

The system includes a maximum of two unsuccessful challenges by either side in any innings.

The first Test of the four-match series begins in Centurion on 16 December.

Meanwhile, South Africa have called up fast bowler Morne Morkel to their squad for the remaining three matches of the one-day series against the tourists.

With both the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India against the introduction of the referral system, as well as the eruption of a dispute over who should pay for the required technology, it looked as though the introduction of the system would be delayed.

However, the ICC announced on Monday that the system would be used in the series between New Zealand and Pakistan, which began on Tuesday, and West Indies' Test matches in Australia, which get under way in Brisbane on Thursday.

Trials showed that the system improved player behaviour and led to a significant reduction in the number of umpiring errors

David Richardson

The ICC's general manager of cricket, David Richardson, said: "We are excited about the introduction of this ground-breaking system.

"With the improvement of technology, umpires' mistakes are exposed and scrutinised like never before. This system will help alleviate the problems created when mistakes are made.

"Trials showed that the system improved player behaviour and led to a significant reduction in the number of umpiring errors."

However, Richardson did acknowledge that, because of the technology required to implement the system, the ICC will reliant on television broadcasters around the world.

"Certainly in this interim phase we have to rely very heavily (on broadcasters)," he added.

"Cricket wouldn't really be able to even contemplate using any kind of technology if it wasn't able to piggyback on what the broadcasters have already.

"We're not in a position to influence what those broadcast agreements might say. We have to live with what is in place at the moment."

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